Saturday afternoon was filled with smiles and conversations as residents of the NYS Veteran’s Home and VA WNY Healthcare had the opportunity to get together outside and enjoy the first ever car show at the Richmond Avenue location in Batavia.
“They’ve never had a car show here before, so I did a lot of car shows in different places, I know how to organize them,” says Larry Piselli, Administrator for the NYS Veteran’s Home. “I really wanted to get the residents outside and looking at cars. Every one of these cars represents a part of their life at some point,” says Piselli.
The event came about after Piselli approached the administrators at the federal facility.
“I wanted to do a collaboration with the VA. We initiated it and they were all in on it the second I brought it up.”
75 vehicles participated in the first ever car show at the VA, with four food trucks also in attendance.
“All the residents are giving this thumbs up. Its great weather and they get to go outside, they’re getting food, they’re really enjoying it.’
Piselli says it took about 6 months to plan today’s car show.
“I think it’s great for the community, it gets them to understand there are 2 facilities here. They always seem to get confused as to which place is what. I think the more we can bring them in and show them what’s going on, the better off it is,” says Piselli.
They took care of my father prior to hospice back in 2006. I couldnt have asked for more supportive care team.